State Briefs 8/28/09

Friday

LOVES PARK – Loves Park police used a Taser to subdue a man who fled across six lanes of traffic on Illinois 251 on Friday.

Police stopped a man driving north on Illinois 251 in a gold Dodge Stratus because of problems with the car’s temporary plates, Loves Park police Sgt. Chuck Lynde said.

After being pulled over, the man drove away from the officer and through a drainage ditch, Lynde said.

From there, the man drove southbound on Illinois 251. Lynde said officers pursued the driver after he fled in the direction of traffic heading south on Illinois 251. The car then collided with a guardrail at Illinois 251 and Spring Creek Road. After the collision, the driver fled the car, running across six lanes of Illinois 251, Lynde said.

The officer chased the suspect about 600 feet and deployed the Taser twice, Lynde said.

Rockford Register Star

Peoria County to use ‘no refusal’ policy for traffic stops this weekend

The crackdown began Friday evening and continues through Monday morning. Motorists suspected of DUI will be asked to comply with the usual request to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

Those who refuse the test will be held while a search warrant is sought from a judge. The warrant will allow police to draw a blood sample from the subject at the scene using a specially equipped Illinois State Police vehicle.

The refusal also will result in a felony charge, according to Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons. Those who do refuse will be face a charge of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony, and be held in custody pending a court appearance to determine bond.

Peoria Journal Star

Man accused of multi-state crime spree arrested

MARION – A man who was wanted for attempted burglary in Energy and later linked to crimes in seven states was arrested Wednesday near Rend Lake.

Rodney D. Cydrus, 40 of Chillicothe, Ohio, was apprehended by Franklin County authorities while driving a van stolen in Ohio.

Cydrus is a suspect in an attempted burglary of the Ace Hardware store in Energy on Aug. 21. Among the other crimes he is alleged to have committed was burglary and arson at H&H Fuel in Goreville and the attempted burglary of J&J Coins in Herrin.

On Friday, Aug. 21, Energy Police officers arrested Koneta McDowell, 46, for possession of a stolen vehicle while parked at the Ace store in Energy. Officers also discovered a burglary in progress, but the suspect, later learned to be Cydrus, fled the scene. Both Cydrus and McDowell are from Ohio.

Later Friday or early Saturday, a truck was reported stolen from Johnston City. The truck was recovered on Monday in Ohio and Cydrus was believed to be driving the vehicle before it was found abandoned.

After interviewing McDowell for three days, Williamson County Detectives linked the pair to crimes in at least seven states: Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas, and Colorado. The crimes include arson, burglaries to businesses, burglary, vehicle theft and theft. Among the crimes were at least 10 stolen vehicles in all seven states.

Marion Daily Republican

Inmate believed to have hanged self at Stephenson County jail

FREEPORT – Authorities are investigating the apparent suicide of a 41-year-old inmate at the Stephenson County Jail.

Jeffrey L. Gould, 41, of Polo, was reportedly found in his cell by a correctional officer at approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday during a routine cell check. The officer discovered that Gould had apparently used a towel in an attempt to asphyxiate himself, said Stephenson County Sheriff David Snyders.

Correctional personnel removed the towel and began to perform CPR on Gould. Gould was taken to FHN Memorial Hospital and was later pronounced dead at around 11:45 that evening. Gould had been incarcerated at the local jail on felony charges of aggravated DUI and aggravated driving while revoked.

Snyders said Gould had not shown any signs of “suicidal tendencies” prior to the incident Wednesday. Gould was alone in his cell at the time of his apparent suicide, since his former cellmate had been transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections shortly after noon on Wednesday. Foul play is not suspected.

According to Snyders, Gould had been at the local jail since Aug. 23, 2009, and had a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday. The felony charges against him resulted from a traffic stop where Gould was pulled over for speeding, Snyders said. He was being held on those charges on a $50,000 bond.

Gould’s autopsy was held on Thursday. Stephenson County Coroner Tom Leamon said Thursday that Gould died from “apparent strangulation.”

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